Fall PreventionBy Jacqueline bosco

Healthy People 2020's objective number 5 is to "reduce the proportion of older adults who have moderate to severe functional limitations." Falls are the leading cause of serious and non-serious injuries in the older adult.

The following information is to inform you about the risk of falls and how you can keep yourself and your loved ones safe from them!

Some reasons you may be at risk for falls:

Balance and gait: As you age, most of you lose some coordination, flexibility, and balance— primarily through inactivity, making it easier to fall.

Vision: In the aging eye, less light reaches the retina—making contrasting edges, tripping hazards, and obstacles harder to see.

Medications: Some prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can cause dizziness, dehydration or interactions with each other that can cause a fall.

Environment: Most seniors have lived in their homes for a long time and have never thought about simple modifications that might help in keeping it safer as they age.

Chronic conditions: More than 90% of older adults have at least one chronic condition like diabetes, stroke, or arthritis. Often, these increase the risk of falling because they result in lost function, inactivity, depression, pain, or multiple medications.

Some steps you can take to reduce your risk of falls!

Keep room free of clutter, especially on floors.

Use plastic or carpet runners on floors.

Do not walk in slippers, heels, or socks.

Make sure rugs are secured to the floor.

Be sure to have well-lit stairs with railings on both sides.

Have a slip-proof bath mat in the shower.

Add more lights to every room.

Wear a call necklace or bracelet in case you do fall so you can call for help.

Educate yourself about possible medication side effects that could lead to a fall

Where can you go for help?

Use your computer to visit one of the following websites about fall prevention!

https://www.ncoa.org/healthy-aging/falls-prevention/

http://agingcarefl.org/resources-on-fall-prevention/

Or go to CARES, Inc., a local non-profit, that offers health and wellness programs aimed at reducing falls.

Or talk to your doctor or registered nurse about what you can do to prevent falls!

Citations

What Are Ways to Prevent Falls and Related Fractures? Fast Facts: An Easy-to-Read Series of Publications for the Public. (2014, November). Retrieved March 06, 2017, from https://www.niams.nih.gov/health_info/bone/osteoporosis/fracture/prevent_falls_ff.asp